I think in my very early woodworking days the single best help I had was a visit to a local power turner for a sharpening demo. Watching demos at the agm is all very well but if you do not have sharp tools at home you will not replicate the lovely clean shavings you saw folk producing. I think we may have had once or twice in the past a sharpening demo but the ideal would be a workshop session, that is somewhere where a beginner can take their tools and be shown how to sharpen them. I would like to see 4 or 5 sharpening stations set up with waterstones, maybe a tormek on hand in case any really trashed tools turn up and a rotor of skilled folk to man it and help folk with sharpening issues.

I think it would be good for APT to invest in the waterstones, anyone game for setting it up and running it? or volunteering to do a stint?

Great idea.As Axel says it might be hard to get agreement but that's positive thing and the different preferences can be explored.I'm sure that my gouges have a slightly different shape to others and except for someone demonstrating sharpening I've seldom seen a text book fingernail profile.

Has anybody got a hand turned stone fastened on their lathe bed? Anyone modified one to turn by foot?Loads of scope here.

Bring your tools and stones and have a tent for them.

Before Robin F says it "probably the same one as the chainsaw sessions".

sounds like a great idea, the first thing i was taught 30yrs ago as a carpenter was which tool to use, the second was how to look after it and sharpen it, if i can make it to the BB i will gladly spend some time showing folks how to put a good edge on.

Yes, I can bring Tormek which I will sell at the auction. It is the old type you fit an electric drill into - sold to me by Mike Abbott himself about 1989, so it has history! If you get a better offer of a Tormek with a motor and/ or leather stropping wheel, then let me know. It will then bypass your tent and just go to the auction, with no reserve.